Chapter 2

Nikki

I walk outside and pick up the phone. A sense of worry now edging the otherwise fun night I am having. 

"Dad, what's up?" 

"Bafy, Caan you coome hoome flease. I need you to coome hoome bafy." My father answers, slurring his words and I can practically smell the alcohol through the phone. 

I’m getting sick and tired of having to fix his mess every single time.

"Why dad, to clean up your mess again? I'm out with Jen and I'll be home when I see fit. Clean up your own fucking mess." I bite back through the phone. One fucking night out and my old man can't even handle that. 

"But, but. I neeeed fyou to come hoome." My father stumbles through the phone and I have had enough of it. 

"No dad and don't expect me to come home tonight at all. Bye!" I snarl through the phone and hang up, anger scorching my veins.

My phone starts ringing again, but I ignore it and set it to silent mode. Let him fucking clean up his own mess for once.

The door behind me opens and Robert peaks out, looking for me. 

"Nikki, the food is here." He says softly, unsure whether or not I am still on the phone. I turn on my heels, face red and angry. "Are you okay?" He asks and holds out an arm for me. 

I breathe out hard and ignore his inviting embrace. "Yeah, now I am. Let's go inside, I'm dying for a drink." I say and march inside, Robert hot on my heels. 

I walk over to Jennifer and pull her straight out of the arms of the man she is kissing. "I'm not going home tonight. If dad calls you, just ignore him." Jennifer looks at me bewildered, lipstick everywhere and a bit out of breath. 

"Sure honey, you wanna sleep at my place or what is your plan?" She asks, her eyes darting between me and Robert. 

"Don't know yet, I'll let you know once I do." I peck her lips and Robert wraps his arm around my shoulders. "Let's get you that drink now."

I march through the busy bar towards my table. The plate with food and a new Manhattan already waiting for me. I drop down in the sofa with a deep sigh, raking my hand through my silvery hair. Robert sits down next to me and takes a sip from his drink, glancing at me through the corner of his eye.

"You want to talk about it?" He asks and nicks a small sausage from the plate. 

"No, not really. It's not like you can change anything about the situation." I say, sipping on my drink and relaxing into the man beside me. 

"Alright, then let me take your mind off things. Let's play a game." He smirks mischievously. 

I look at him expectantly. "What kind of game?" 

"A game of chatterbox?" 

I laugh loudly, easiness finding its way back to my heart again. "A game of chatterbox, really? How old are we? Fifty-five?" I smile and he shrugs his shoulders. 

"Yeah, why not? It'll take your mind off things and it's a good way to get to know you." 

"Alright, you win. Go get us a chatterbox." I laugh and he picks a piece of cheese off the plate, quickly pushing it into my mouth. 

Before I can cuss at him, he is already on his feet and on his way to the bar. I shake my head, chewing on the cheese with an already less troubled mind. 

He really delivers. 

Robert is back in a heartbeat, a jar filled with cards under his arm and smirking from ear to ear. 

"I hope you are ready to grovel." He grins and I can't help but grin right back at him. His amusement and enthusiasm are as contagious as it can be.

"Sure am! Bring your worst!"

And he really does bring his worst, the questions on the cards are getting shadier and more vulgar the further we play. Drink after drink comes to our table. For the first time in a long time, I am really having a blast with not a single care on my mind, good fun and a man beside me who makes me laugh. Plus, my insides burn up whenever he lays his eyes on me.

"God, you can't be serious. You really have been busted by your mom while jerking off?" I laugh loudly and tears fall down my eyes. "This is too much, I can't." I shake my head and place my hand on his chest, which is surprisingly muscular.

"Hey, I can't help it my mom has the worst timing ever." He raises his hands in defeat. 

"I'm going to go to the toilet before I piss myself. Don't you dare to go anywhere, mister!" I stand up, unsteady on my feet from all the cocktails. 

"Ayay captain!" Robert grins and salutes me.  Grinning and shaking my head, I walk away. "You cheeky bastard." 

I head to toilets in the back of the bar, it's busy for a Thursday evening and I've got to push my way through like it’s a Saturday. 

The door of the toilets swings open and out comes a young woman, huge grin on her face. She still has a bit of white powder under her nose. “You’ve still got something under your nose.” I say with an apologetic smile. 

She looks me over and brushes her nose, snorting it in at the same time. “Gone?” She asks. 

“Yup, good to go.” 

“Cool, thanks!” The woman grins and disappears into the crowd. 

I get into the toilet and do my thing. Refreshed and relieved, I leave the toilet. The cocktails I drank make my head a little dizzy and my body a lot looser.

Robert is exactly where I left him. His eyes follow my every move as I pass the bar. The way he preys on me, it makes my inside boil and heat spread through me. Such raw confidence and sexuality.

I let myself fall down on the sofa and grip his chin, turning his face towards me. 

The need to taste him pushing every other thought out of my mind. His arm wraps itself around my waist and the other into my hair as he pulls me closer into him. His warmth, scent and aura seep into me, until all there is left is him.

He presses his lips against mine, claiming my mouth in a bruising kiss. My tongue slips into his mouth, tasting the mix of him, beer and something metallic.

He tastes so good, it’s intoxicating.

He pulls my hair, forcing me to bare my neck to him. A soft moan slips through my lips when he places open mouthed kisses from my ear to the soft tissue between my neck and shoulder. Heat builds in my core, and he trails his fingers from my waist to the sensitive part of my thigh. Leaving a trail of goosebumps everywhere he touches me. 

I drag my hand through his hair, softly pulling it and moaning softly when he sucks hard on my skin. His hand rakes over my thigh, disappears under my skirt and presses against my damp panties.

I swallow the moan that threatens to spill from my lips, the sensation of him so close is almost too much. I break free of him. 

Breathing heavily, all I can see is him. All I want is him and I know then, I’ll be staying the night with Robert. 

“Let’s get out of here.” I breathe into his face, my eyes still half closed and heat searing through me like molten lava.

Robert doesn’t even answer me. He pulls me up, flush against him and kisses me deeply. His hands on my back and on my ass, as his rather impressive length presses against my stomach. 

God, I want him!!!

“Let’s go beautiful.” He murmurs against my lips. 

I look back at him, a smile on my face. “Sure, I’ll get my tab and say goodbye to Jennifer. I’ll see you at the door.” I say, peck his lips with a kiss and dart towards the bar. 

Barney is waiting for me already. My tab is in his hands as he greets me with a big grin on his face. “I take it you're going darling.” 

“Sure am Barney, how much is it?” Barney looks at the tab and back at me again. 

“46,50 please.” I pull out a fifty euro bill and hand it to him with a smile. 

“Keep the change.” 

“Sure will! Oh, and your father called, he sounded really stressed out. Maybe you should check your phone.” I force the smile to stay on my face and wave goodbye. 

My fucking old man and his fucking drunken antics. I contemplate for a second to check my phone, but I push that thought away quickly. 

I let my eyes trail over the crowd and find Jennifer and Robert’s friend in a corner, looking like they could use a room. Grinning, I push myself through the crowd until I’m right behind the couple I was looking for. 

I clear my throat, loud, and tap the man on his shoulder. He whips his head around, startled for a second. But he smiles a blink of a moment later. 

“Hey, Nikki, was it? What’s up?” He says, keeping a hand on the back of her neck. Jen looks completely flustered, dilated pupils, heavy breathing, flustered skin and her mouth slightly parted.

“Yes, it is. I’m going home with Robert, maybe you two should do that too. You know, before you turn this bar into some brothel. What was your name again?” I ask as I see Jennifer slowly coming back to earth. 

He rakes his hand through his dark hair, a lopsided smile on his face. “Timor, we can share a cab if you want that. Robert and I are practically neighbors.” 

“Sounds good.” 

Jennifers eyes lock with me, slight alarm in her eyes. “Your dad called me at least fifteen times, you should really call him back before we go. He sounded really panicked when I finally picked up.” 

Grunting, I roll my eyes. My sharp anger slowly morphs into concern. “Alright, I’ll call him once we’re outside. See you in a bit!” 

I turn on my heels, pick up my jacket from the wardrobe and grab my phone. A bit shocked I look at the screen. Seventeen missed calls from my father, at least five from an unknown number and several alarmed text messages from my father. 

Fuck, this is serious. .

I push my way out the bar and dial my father’s number. He picks up immediately. 

“Baby, Nikki.” His voice breaks, which breaks my heart. The shear panic and despair shreds every last bit of anger I felt against him. 

“Dad, I’m right here. Breathe, tell me what is wrong.” 

I hear my father taking deep, steading breathes, but before he can tell me what is going on, I hear another man in the background. His voice gravelly low, cold and unforgiving.

“Get your daughter home old man, or you’ll be dead before the night ends.”